Cryogenic spray ejector



Dec. 26, 1961 s. E. coLuccl CRYOGENIC SPRAY EJECTOR Filed Aug. 11, 1958 F W s a:

W .l w 1 7 m 04 5 6; Z 7 I. I .1 4 2 W1 2 5 a 0% w w 5 I z A R M M, m S 4 m a 0 z INVENTOR. STEVE EDWARD COLUCCI BY S A TTORNE YS.

United States i atentfliiiice 3,@i4,705 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 land Filed Aug. 11, 1953, Ser. No. 754,402 7 Claims. (Cl. 261-16) fl tlclhis invention relates to a spray nozzle for a cryogenic Spray nozzles for cryogenic fluids have a tendency to vapor lock due to the absorption of heat by or within the nozzle housing. The spray nozzles, of course, fail to function properly when they become vapor locked.

The present invention makes provision for the elimination of vapors from the passage upstream of the spray nozzle, thereby avoiding a vapor lock which would prevent proper functioning of the spray nozzle. The vapors eliminated from upstream of the spray nozzle are conducted through a by-pass conduit to a venturi forward of the spray nozzle through which the spray is directed. The vapors, when introduced into the venturi in this manner, induce an additional flow of a fluid through the venturi. I

More specifically, the present invention embodies a valve housing in communication with a liquid stored in a low temperature storage container, such as a container or bottle of the Dewar type. This housing contains a passage therethrough for the liquid, said passage terminating in a liquid spray nozzle through which the liquid is ejected in a jet stream. The liquid spray discharges into a venturi which functions as an air circulating pump, inducing a flow of air into the inlet end thereof and discharging the spray commingled with the air from the discharge end of the venturi. The rate of discharge of the cryogenic fluid is regulated by an adjustable valve.

To avoid vapor lock upstream of the jet spray, a by pass is provided from the valve housing upstream of the spray nozzle to the venturi. The valve housing accommodates a valve therein at the inlet end of the by-pass to regulate flow through the by-pass.

The present invention also includes a common control means for adjusting the valve which regulates the flow of cryogenic fluid through the spray nozzle and the valve which regulates the flow of vapor and/or cryogenic fluid through the by-pass. When the spray valve is closed, the by-pass valve also is closed. When it is desired to discharge the cryogenic fluid from the storage reservoir through the spray nozzle, the appropriate adjustment of the common control means will open both spray and by-pass valves.

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference may be made to the detailed description which follows and to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation in cross-section illustrating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating the spray nozzle housing with portions thereof broken away and shown in section.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a cryogenic fluid in liquid state is adapted to be stored in a suitable insulated tank or container 1, such as a container or.

bottle of the Dewar type. The fluid may be discharged from this tank through a-conduit 2 which communicates with an internal passage 3 of a spray nozzle housing 4.

An adjustable valve 5 is providedadjacent the upstream, side of the spray nozzle 6 to regulate the discharge of the cryogenic liquid through the spray nozzle.

The liquid spray from the nozzle 6 is discharged in a jet stream into the inlet of a venturi 7. The flow of the cryogenic liquid jet through the venturi induces a flow of air through the venturi which is commingled with the liquid spray and discharged therewith. Thus, the venturi functions as an air circulating pump which; may be used in an appropriate system, such as an air conditioning system for space vehicles.

The spray nozzle valve is carried at the forward end of a longitudinally adjustable stem 3 which extends lengthwise through the passage 3 of the housing 4. The member 8 is provided with an extension 8a which is guided in an opening in the upstream end Wall of the housing 4. The stem carries radial fins 9 which engage longitudinal grooves (see FIGURE 2) in the inner wall of the passage 3 to support the valve 5 and to prevent rotation of the valve stem while permitting longitudinal movement thereof. The cryogenic liquid is introduced into the passage 3 within the housing 4 from the conduit 2 through a series of ports 10 arranged in circular array about the extension 8a.

The stem 8 is formed with a helical groove or thread 11 which meshes with complementary grooves or teeth formed in a central opening of a disc 12 which is rotatably mounted in bearings within the housing 4. Passages M are formed through the disc 12 to permit the liquid to pass from the upstream end of the passage 3, through the disc T2, to the spray nozzle. The disc 12 is rotatably adjusted by a handle 13 to move the valve 5 relative to the nozzle. The handle 13 extends through a slot in the housing 4 so that it is accessible externally of the housing. A spring detent 15 carried by the handle facilitates the adjustment thereof.

T o prevent vapor lock within the passage 3 upstream of the spray nozzle 6, a by-pass 16 is provided to withdraw vapor from the housing 4 and to discharge it through a plurality of openings 17 in the inner wall of the discharge or expanding passage of the venturi 7. The inlet end of the by-pass 16 extends upwardly from the upper region of the passage 3 to permit gasestrapped therein to rise through the inlet to the by-pass. The discharge openings 17 in the venturi are all in communication with a circular trough 13 which surrounds the throat of the venturi. Vapor and/or liquid that flows through the by-pass 16 is introduced into the trough 18 and then discharged through the openings 17. The introduction of the vapor and/or cryogenic liquid into the venturi eliminates vapor lock and aids in inducing air flow through the venturi, all without waste of the liquid.

An auxiliary valve 20 is provided at the inlet end of the by-pass 16. Its valve stem 21 is guided for vertical movement toward and away from the inlet opening of the by-pass passage by a webbing 22 formed integrally with the housing within the passage 3. The lower end of the valve stem 21 engages and is supported in a longitudinal slot or groove 23 (see FIGURE 2) formed in a tapered portion 24 of the valve stem 8. The lower end of the valve stem 21 is urged into contact with the tapered portion of the stem 8 by the action of a spring 25. The tapered portion of the valve stem 8 serves as a sloped cam to adjust the position of the valve 20 relative to the inlet end of the by-pass 16. Thus, when the valve stem 8 is moved to the right as shown in FIGURE 1, moving the valve 5 toward closed position, the by-pass valve 20 is raised toward its closed position. Similarly, the adjustment of the valve stem 8 to move the valve 5 toward open position imparts corresponding movement to the by-pass valve 20.

In the operation of the device, the cryogenic fluid is stored within the tank 1 with both the spray valve 5 and the by-pass valve 20 closed. When it is desired to discharge the cryogenic liquid in a jet stream into the venturi,

the handle 13 is rotated in the appropriate direction to back the valve 5 away from the spray nozzle 6. In so adjusting the valve stem 8, the tapered portion 24 thereof is moved relative to the lower end of the valve stem 21 and the by-pass valve Ztl is thereby adjusted to open position, permitting vapors which may have become entrapped within the passage 3 to rise and flow through the by-pass 16 to the venturi 7. The vapor and any of the cryogenic liquid which flows through the by-pass 16 is re-introduced into the venturi 7 through the circular array of discharge ports 17, so that there is no loss of the cryogenic fluid. Moreover, this introduction of vapor and/or cryogenic fluid into the venturi 7 helps induce the flow of air therethrough, as explained above The invention has been shown in preferred form and by way of example only, and obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention, therefore, is not to be limited to any specified form or embodiment, except in so far as such limitations are set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for eliminating vapor lock in the discharge of a liquid comprising a valve housing in communication with the source of the liquid through which the liquid flows during discharge, a discharge port leading from the housing, a valve adjustable to regulate the how through the discharge port, a bypass discharge port leading from the upper region of the housing, whereby vapor inthe upper region of the housing will flow through the by-pass discharge port, a valve adjustable to regulate the flow through the bypass discharge port, and common adjusting means for regulating both valves.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said common adjusting means includes a valve stem within said valve housing and connected to the valve which regulates the flow through the discharge port, said valve stem being adjustable longitudinally within said valve housing, means for imparting longitudinal movement to the said valve stem, and means carried by the valve stem for adjusting the valve which regulates the flow through the bypass discharge port.

3. Apparatus for eliminating vapor lock in the discharge of a vapor evolving liquid comprising a discharge nozzle, a venturi at the discharge side of the nozzle, the upstream end of said venturi communicating with said discharge nozzle so that liquid discharged from the discharge nozzle enters the venturi, a plurality of discharge ports in the inner wall of the venturi for discharging into the passage through the venturi in a downstream direction, a passage upstream of the discharge nozzle through which the liquid is supplied to the discharge nozzle, a by-pass passage establishing communication. between the passage upstream of the discharge nozzle and the discharge ports for by-passing vapor evolved from the liquid upstream of the discharge nozzle, and adjustable valve means for regulating the flow of vapor through the by-pass passage, the by-pass passage conducting the evolved vapor to the discharge port of the venturi downstream of the discharge nozzle.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including a passage surrounding the venturi communicating with the discharge ports, said by-pass passage supplying the evolved vapor to the passage surrounding the venturi.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which the inlet to the by-pass passage extends upwardly from the upper region of the passage upstream of the nozzle to permit the evolved vapor to rise therein.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including adjustable valve means for regulating the flow through the discharge nozzle, and means controlled by the adjustment of the discharge nozzle valve for adjusting the by-pass valve.

7. An apparatus for eliminating vapor lock in the discharge of a liquid comprising a valve housing in communication with a source of the liquid through which the liquid flows durirn discharge, a discharge nozzle leading from the housing, a venturi passage downstream of the discharge nozzle, a discharge nozzle valve adjustable to regulate the flow through the discharge nozzle and into the upstream end of the venturi passage, an opening into the venturi passage downstream of the discharge nozzle, a bypass discharge port in the upper region of the housing, passage means connecting the bypass discharge port and the opening into the venturi passage, said opening introducing into the venturi passage in a jet stream any vapor evolved in the upper region of the housing, a bypass discharge port valve adjustable to regulate the flow through the bypass discharge port, and common adjusting means for regulating both valves.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,161,409 Dalton June 6, 1939 2,315,847 Garretson Apr. 6, 1943 2,315,879 St. Clair Apr. 6, 1943 

